“Black music has always known, and not been afraid to acknowledge just how high the stakes of Black thought are. To summarize the final soliloquy of Clay, the protagonist in LeRoi Jones’ (aka Amiri Baraka’s) play Dutchman. You’d better be glad Charlie Parker could play him some horn and Bessie Smith could sing, because if they didn’t make music they might murder you. One would be hard pressed to find another group of people on this planet whose music is a surrogate for murder. One would be hard pressed to another group of people on this planet whose life is a proxy for death.”
Quote by Frank B. Wilderson III
Author
Frank B. Wilderson III
Frank B. Wilderson III is an influential American writer known for his contributions to critical theory and cultural studies, particularly in the area of race and representation. Born on April 11, 1956, he has made significant strides in understanding the complexities of African American experiences in contemporary society. more